Runway riders take over Guernsey Airport

Monday 16 July 2018

A charity initiative, which doubled as a training ride for a cycling challenge, has been described as a huge success after Guernsey Airport allowed around 300 people to "ride the runway" on Saturday night.

It was organised by the people behind the 'Tour De Sez' which is an event run by the Sarah Groves Foundation in her memory.

It is believed to have been the first time the airport runway has been opened up in this way, to allow cyclists to use the flat tarmac surface as a training ride. They were aiming to complete circuits of the two mile course with some people hoping to cover 100 miles between 22:00 on Saturday 14 July and 05:00 on Sunday 15 July.

Gary Hooks, who co-organised the event said it could only be described as a "fantastic event."

Speaking "the morning after the night before," he said he had too many thank yous to mention, from the airport security team, to the Channel Islands Air Search team, to members of the Sarah Groves Foundation, the Tour De Sez riders and "the entire cycling community that all worked together to bring what can only be described as a fantastic event."

He said the entire team pulled together with an outstanding effort which gave amazing results.

Among the many riders was Josh Gabriel, who is one of the cyclists taking on this year's Tour De Sez which will see him and others ride to Amsterdam to raise money in memory of the murdered young Guernseywoman, Sarah Groves. All money raised goes towards projects which her parents believe she would have supported included those focusing on children, the arts and physical well being.